Sexy Inc. Our Children Under Influence

Bissonnette's documentary analyzes the hypersexualization of our environment and its noxious effects on young people.

Psychologists, teachers and school nurses criticize the unhealthy culture surrounding our children, where marketing and advertising are targeting younger and younger audiences and bombarding them with sexual and sexist images.

Sexy Inc. suggests various ways of countering hypersexualization and the eroticization of childhood and invites us to rally against this worrying phenomenon.

83 Comments / User Reviews

...it's gender equality or anti-sexism. ... saganist... those aren't proper terms either. The real term used to describe total true equality is egalitarianism. Unfortunately, too many people today overlook at that term and call themselves by other names... i.e. Feminism, BLM, SJWs, MGTOW. These groups aren't for total equality, because they only focus on isolated incidents. They don't focus on the whole picture on what truly causes inequality. They all overlook at Classism, which to me is the byproduct of our monetary-market system which profits off on all human misery, pain, suffering and death. All this misery, pain, suffering and death can be linked to the faulty, outdated principles of the monetary-market system. This is why I despise and avoid the agenda and people within the Feminism, BLM, SJWs, MGTOW groups. Feminists blame men for the problems women face... BLM blame white people for the problems black people face... SJWs blames everyone who isn't like them for the problems they face.... MGTOWs blame women for the problems men face... when will these *beep*ing clowns realize that these aren't isolated incidents or problems... they are human problems created from the monetary-market system that profits off of them.

Bravo! Bravo! For many years I've felt the pendulum swinging too hard in several areas of society and this one scares me for both genders. These are things that have always (rightly!) been of concern & topics of conversation but it's getting harder & harder to fight the wave of sexual saturation. How do you teach a child that "this" is acceptable & true when "that" surrounds them at every they turn? I don't understand how we got this way when EVERYONE knows it's wrong. Is it truly a handful of people re-shaping our society?

AMAZING AMAZING DOCUMENTARY! Thank you! Really! Thank you so Much! As a muslim Girl, I've always known that the image projected about women nowadays is not approriate! It's like detaching a women from who she really is, and projecting her a sexual object! If us, young people can identify the problem with Ads today, kids are not able to do that. Some people are held back by Religion from watching inappropriate websites, or selling themselves for free, but kids are only kids. They are still building their personality, and their perspective about life, and if they grew up watching stuff like that; I can predit the consequences. I was SHOCKED when there was no difference between porn pictures, and " normal" ads. It's a clear corruption of people's minds. I wish I can do something! I wish we can do something, I wish somebody can do something...

Men are as deeply affected by this same, over sex-saturated money-oriented, culture as women are. Do you think little boys are born looking at women as sex objects? Do you feel women are born that way? I've met many men who don't buy into it, and many women who empower this stereotype.

Chauvinism is no better or worse than feminism. Really the opposite side of the same coin. Feminism while having done some good things in our world, is also responsible for a great many problems facing our society as well. The vilification of men is one of them. I'm not down playing the inequality that is evident in history, I am suggesting that the demonizing of male sexuality is not a solution. I have no problem with feminism, and chauvinism can be a good thing as well. Chauvinism, is deeply related to chivalry, and that was actually a good set of moral guide lines for the era in which it developed. Nor do I always hear chicks complain when guys open the door for them, pick up the tab, initiate the action in a relationship.

Today, boys are as deeply affected by this trend of "sexy" we see in the world. They're being educated by commercialism and normalcy (in both men and women) to see things in a certain way. Men have also become sex objects in this modern age. My ex - broke up with me, and one reason she kept giving was my lack of a "6 - pack" abs. Hmmmm..... no objectifying in there. Sadly, today, men will be blamed for her issue.

My comment may have seemed slanted but I actually partially agree with you. I am by no means an advocate of feminism. I am simply saddened by the fact that some women seek approval of men in such an imprudent manner and that some men believe they are manly only if they act like a schwarzenegger. You are right. Both sexes fall prey to such mistaken ideas. People have somehow become so easily susceptible to the media's message.

Beata Filipiak
- 12/03/2012 at 18:57

I loved the documentary. It draws attention to some really burning issues. I loathe our sex-saturated money-oriented culture in which girls wear padded bras to look alluring and have the audacity to use sexually explicit language. I'd hazard we still live in a male-driven world. Male chauvinism has only changed its face from "stay at home, don't receive education" to "show your tits to prove your value". Appalling.

Men and women are both pressured to conform to what society idealized as masculine and feminine. I think whatever guys do whatever it may be, even cooking and cleaning, is masculine. The same for women, whether it is construction or repair or what have you...whatever they do its feminine. This idea that one is only this or that is so limited and constrictive...no wonder our species as a whole (sexism is a human phenomenon issue) is stuck and hasn't really evolved or grown much. Nature rewards differences, why can't we humans see that change is good that differences and not limiting roles and such benefits our species survival for the future. Just imagine how advanced we would be as a whole (forget society, culture, etc; its about the human species, your species), if we weren't so constrictive with the human made notion of gender, race, ethnicity etc and the roles that are placed/focused upon because of those notions.

A good example would be this scenario between me and my man. If I earned more than he does, he said he would be the stay-at-home husband. However, if he earned more, I would be the stay-at-home mom. We share the same ideals, that someone needs to be the knight that guards the fortress (home security/ home maker), while the other knight fights off the enemies and protects the land (work to pay the expenses). The knight who guards the fortress protects and trains the future knights (looks after and educates the kids). Restrictive gender roles don't permit the person who is stronger for that role to do his/her job. Based on gender roles, my man shouldn't cook, even though he loves it and is a professional at it. Gender roles limits the family and therefore the whole society into evolving and advancing itself in a better position. Sometimes men aren't meant to be always the one to provide income, just as women aren't always the one to be home makers. :) Occupations/ roles ought to be given and done by those who are best at it. Gender roles don't allow for that to occur thus cause tension for everyone... and that's where the wars/arguments amongst the sexes starts. Allow the people to chose what is best without ridicule and you have a helpful household, thus peaceful society.

Hard to stand out? I always stood out as a teen and even more so as an adult. It's called dressing and acting ...being yourself. I loved to study, at a generation of kids who view being educated as uncool, so I stood out like a stubborn nail that won't hammer in. I also have the genes that make me look younger than I do. I still stand out in society. I'm 30 yrs old, but look 16 yrs old. O_O I have to live with this. I use to hate it because when I was a teen I look like 6 to 8 yrs old. I now like the young genes. Its still painful because I have the awkward preteen body. My face is that of a 16yr old. Its difficult but I accept it now. Took me forever to do so. I wanted to NOT stand out. Everything I tried I still stood out as a teen. >_> I just have to accept the fact that I have an appearance that people just want to look at and that I stand out, regardless.

ok okay, yes its true but c'mon, Pink a sexualized color? As an artist, pink is a color i fell in love with after having my two girls.....as a disenfranchised punk...pink meant to me acceptance, finally, of womanhood and everything that came along with it. This doc, while making valid points, is a little extreme in the messaging. My girls are raised to know the truth, about ads, tv, sex, females........media is only as strong as parental involvement......btw, spell-check wants to change "sexualized" to "serialized"...go figure....

I have two girls and I know that media, especially music video's and the celebrities you idolize shape how you want to dress, act, dance etc. You are looking for your identity and your looking the impress boys and you want attention and you want to be accepted but to what extremes. Seeing this documentary is really sad that our society is so sexually charged about everything. There is no sensory in public. I know as a parent we have to sensor but when they are bonbarded daily by images plastered on billboards or on magazines its hard to shelter them. I guess the only thing as a parent we can do is let them know that media is not realistic and that it doesn't portray the truth about women or men. That we don't have to look or dress like the pictures they see. That is ok to be different and to be themselves. Good doc. Thanks for sharing. If all parents could raise their children with good morals and values and help them to see that they don't have to be what they see on tv, I wonder what that would be like.

By looking at this,i really do feel proud to be Muslim.
I see the western-world is somehow seeing their own exploitation of women .Like they say Muslim women are oppressed and stuff, but what this shows is exactly where the problem of the west lies.

Boring... sex is an issue because we are animals. If you want to be considered more, be considered more. It's the marketplace that makes demands such stuff. Girls will say, i'm complex, blah blah blah, but then you see them at the bar dancing like sluts. then they say it's just cus they like to dance.

Women need sex as much as men and I don't see why they can't dance like sluts when they feel like it. But, that is not all women can do. That's the issue here.

you don't need to know : p
- 09/20/2011 at 03:30

As a liberal, feminist, 18 year old girl who has witness all of this first hand in both small and large school systems, and has both an insider (as in being part of the demographic this infuriating crap is forced on for most of my life) and an outsider (as in being totally uninterested in sex by orientation), I have to say a lot of the comments completely missed the point.

Yes, there are tons of girls who don't buy into the sexism and are okay with being themselves. Unfortunately, they really are a minority. Because of gender socialization and brainwashing, not to mention peer pressure and many young boy's total lack of respect for women, a lot of otherwise smart, confident girls are sucked in and dehumanised by this infuriating culture we're all forced into. My slightly older sister, the twelve year old I look after, and almost all of my school mates (including those several grades under me) are prime examples of this.

Also, despite being asexual I am very pro sex for others, but only in situations that are healthy mentally and physically for all those involved. I don't think that any of what the media is trying to instill in children of all ages is either of those.

if you want to talk brainwashing start by examining the feminist side of your beliefs.

i can give you an example of how boys face similar things to every hardship you do. that would be a quite long list so i will only bring up one thing on it.... i can do a better job than the so called expert that dismissed the pressure on boys because they can wear baggy t shirts.

that one thing is the total lack of respect most women give a young boy just for being a boy.

I will never understand how the feminists claim they are fighting to erase gender stereotyping and discrimination while claiming men are the issue. if you don't see the contradiction in this phrase you clearly do not stand for equality.

the moment you make a boy prove he isnt like the other boys you are no better than the proverbial man who said prove you are smarter than kitchen work instead of just accepting you as a fellow human.

its really easy to see stupid men and believe they hate women or are naturally sexist... sometimes it might be the case but the moment you screw you and snap to a judgment that it was because they are men when you dont know that for sure, you are adding to the problem not helping it.

the people, men and women, who are at the top of the wealthy list are the ones who control us all.... these same people are the ones who began funding feminism as you know it. they also control the media which fires men for stupid comments and allows sharon osbourne to laugh about a man getting his penis cut because he was asking for a divorce. do you really think the media would have allowed a man to laugh about a woman getting her breasts and clit cut off by a man?

the key is to turn as much of the common people against each other as possible... if we are too busy infighting they get away with what ever they please.

I dont like women being seen as less than people... i have and still do fight against it. I fight it as much as i fight against feminism and men's versions. mens side of the story needs to be told because feminism has created many brainless monsters...as have the media in general both on that topic and in other ways.

BUT one sided movements that teach only one side is the victim will not create equality.

if you want true gender equality you must look no father than pushing the belief that the genders are no different and are equally capable of tasks if they put their minds to it.

most women could put on enough muscle to pull people out of burning buildings if they tried hard enough just as most men could be excellent care takers if they focused on interpersonal skills.

alina zarekaite
- 02/05/2012 at 14:15

I would suggest you to read some books, just to know what feminism is about before speaking against it. First of all, it is not against the men, you can be calm, no feminist will come to "brainwash" you; it is about the gender socialization we ALL are being forced into. And yes, you are right when you say that the boys must suffer it as well, it`s just a different way of socialization, that gives women a handicap to begin with. And if you think that you`re free of this sexist issue, you`re so far from understand it that you can not even see where it starts... Again, read more before you talk.

Maia Maladi
- 06/18/2012 at 01:00

They do not blame men, much rather capitalism and consumerism

Amber Rife
- 06/21/2012 at 05:18

Men are NOT the issue. Part of the issue IS patriarchy, and there is a difference. Boys and girls, men and women, should be free to do as they wish within the confines of the law. A girl should be able to play with trucks and have short hair, without being called a "tomboy" or a lesbian. A boy should be able to play with a baby doll (parenting skills, anyone? Males need to learn, as well), or wear long hair, or a pink shirt, without being called a sissy, less than a man, or gay. Women should not be paid less. Women need more maternity leave, and men need PATERNAL leave. That's feminism. Not hating and blaming men for society's, and women's, problems.

Cam Gould
- 06/21/2012 at 05:28

I wish the majority chauvinists who call themselves 'feminist', and don't get the basic idea of an all inclusive way of moving forward would think like that. I'm surprised you haven't been called something horrible for suggesting that men are not all evil, and that true equality is the answer.

Amber Rife
- 06/21/2012 at 05:48

I have. And it's been TONS of fun to be a full-fledged feminist with a child, who I naturally birthed, and breastfeed. I've had so-called feminists tell me that I'm perpetuating the negative expectations and stereotyping of women, that breastfeeding is damaging to an independent woman, that choosing to be a stay at home mom for awhile is damaging to women everywhere, etc. Throw in that I have no problem with pornography, at all (assuming that it is kept away from children, the women AND men are not being exploited and enjoy their chosen work, and that everyone involved is getting proper health care), want to homeschool, used to be an alternative model, and think that the only problem with nudity is context, and I turn into a breathing bashfest for EVERYONE, on all sides of the argument (an argument that shouldn't even BE an argument.)

Amber Rife
- 06/21/2012 at 05:50

But that's really alright. Sometimes, people need to get all fired up in order to change their mind, and change the system. People sitting at their computers with no reason to argue, no reason given to fight for something, aren't going TO fight unless they get prodded. Unfortunately, offending people (even unintentionally) seems to do just that. :P

Amber Rife
- 06/21/2012 at 06:04

Men see the exact same images as women, they are simply affected by them in a different way. A woman sees a commercial targeting men, and they hear it say, "This is what you need to look like to get a man. You must be perfect. Nothing about you is good enough. Change, change, change, or you are less than a woman," even if they don't consciously realize it. Men see the same commercial, which is trying to tell them, " You're the man. Women are sex toys, made up to order for your benefit." The men and women watching that commercial don't even need to truly believe those images. They are still there, and they still take their toll.

Exhibit A: Runway models, so very unhealthily thin in the first place. Eating next to nothing, being castigated for the slightest bit of normal, healthy softness.

Exhibit B: College "rape culture". So many college age men sexually assault women, and see nothing wrong with it. A woman unable to give consent, under the influence, dressed "sexy", must want it. She's fair game. If these BOYS have any money, their parents have any influence, etc... Then very often they're free to continue with their actions.

Exhibit C: A 5' 4", 140 pound woman takes a picture of herself in a bikini. She's had a child. She's not perfect. The picture ends up online, and most of the comments are about how fat she is. At that height and weight? Fat? No.

Exhibit D: Fat is unhealthy, but no amount of skinny can be TOO skinny. Anorexia doesn't count, or people ignore the signs of it.

Exhibit E: Gamer culture. Boys are portrayed as pimply geeks. Girls are portrayed as lonely fat girls. Gamer boys often act disgusting whenever they realize that one of their fellow gamers is a female. "Make me a sammich, woman!", "T OR GTFO (tits or get the f**** out)!", etc. Women often have to play as male characters to avoid the insanity of it all. To avoid being driven away. Women's characters in games tend to be huge-busted, wearing teeny battle bikinis. Men's characters are huge, muscular, ripped. Perpetuating a stereotype for males. And yet, women have been polled on their preferences for men, using photos. Most of them seem to prefer more... svelte? men. The Johnny Depps or Keanu Reeves', the Ryan Goslings. Not the Arnolds and the Vin Diesels.

Boys' and girls' toys are separated at store. Girl toy sections are an explosion of pink, purple, and white. I watch parents steering their daughters away from construction sets, because they are too masculine. Knowing how to fix things is manly? I thought that it was self sufficient. Boys get steered away from dolls and cleaning sets, too sissy, too GAY. And yet boys will, probably, be parents some day. Boys will eventually need to keep their homes, their rooms, clean.

Sexism is everywhere. For men, too.

Amber Rife
- 06/21/2012 at 06:05

Whoops, meant to reply to myself.

Yusiley S
- 06/25/2012 at 17:28

You've stated all that was in my mind. Thank you so much. Good to see I'm not alone on the matter. Sexism destroys people, not just women. I truly think that thinking sexism is just a woman issue is sexist onto itself. Again, thank you for your post. :)

justnic
- 03/28/2013 at 14:56

It's that sort of thinking that is a problem as well, how much do you REALLY know about the "average" feminist? I have many feminist friends, a great majority of which are men. To put it simply feminists believe in equality. Equality does not mean rising above other genders or people, rather rising above the stereotypes and pressures pushed on us, and seeing our own true potential. Rising above the media onslaught and treating others with kindness and respect that we hope to get in return, and working politically to ensure that our sons and daughters can grow up KNOWING that they are equal to, not greater than or lesser than each other. The fact that you believe or think that feminists are man hating, "bra burning", or some other such is propaganda. Incorrect, horribly biased propaganda. Think critically and you will see that this is not true of most feminists. There are however, people who do think this way and I can only see it as hurting our cause and I do my best to talk with these people and show them what feminism means to me.

Yusiley S
- 06/25/2012 at 17:41

Awesome comment. One of the best. *nods* Though I'm confused...isn't patriarchy run by men? So in a way some of the issues are due to the fault of men? :/ I will agree fully its not 100% the fault of all men, but men are the focus member of the patriarchy society. After all isn't the definition of patriarchy a society that centralizes and gives dominate power to the men...??? Men who don't do anything are just as fault as the men who continue the cycle of inequality. I personally blame lazy, arrogant people for the problems of society and women.... “My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt” - Anna Sewell (writer of Black Beauty)

saganist
- 08/22/2014 at 21:31

What you described is not feminism, it's gender equality or anti-sexism. There's a big difference. I agree with everything else you said.

Aswad Exodus
- 04/12/2012 at 03:05

What's sex got to do with it, is this the only thing you consider to be just to your self and others.

Yusiley S
- 08/14/2011 at 22:15

I really like this documentary, but... like what Scott Tramposch had written before me, I feel that the children seem to be exploited in this film. The creators are just as bad as the industry they're protesting against. The kids are being exploited because the creators are imposing and forcing their own beliefs on the kids. We don't know whether these kids are forced to believe that a lady in her underwear is bad or the images they're seeing is bad. How do we know these kids aren't being manipulated into the further right (conservative) propaganda, just as the media manipulates them into the further left (liberal) propaganda? BTW I think both sides are full of themselves and people need to go back being critical thinkers and stop this gang mentality childs' play.

One thing I do agree with the documentary... kids should be kids. I'm disgusted right now with how kids are pushed into play dates and scheduled after school nonsense. They're not allowed to explore for themselves what they really like and to use their imagination. Kids ought to chose for themselves who they should play with and when. My siblings and I never had a play date while growing up. Our cousins would come over whenever they felt like it and we played out for hours on end in the backyard (swimming pool, tennis, racket ball, basketball, baseball, stunt driving with the powerwheel on the ramp... etc). We would play outside till it got dark and then played more inside with our toys or played Nintendo games. Video games was strictly a night time event.

As for the topic of taking about sex with kids, I was fortunate enough to have such a great mom who taught me and my siblings about our changing bodies, puberty, and sex since the time we started to go to school (kindergarten). My mom was especially detailed about it with me, due to my autistic tendencies and ways. She didn't want anyone to take advantage of my overt friendly persona. Now just because I grew up with that and given that information at that age don't mean that it should be done to every child. After all every child is different with different family backgrounds and traditions. As a teacher and seeing how cruel the country is at parents and their parenting skills, I'm a firm believer that parents should be given back their power over their children, regardless if the rest of us may feel differently about that way of parenting. We're not the ones providing a roof, clothing and food for that child, the parents are. I agree parents ought to choose whether their kids ought to be taught about their changing bodies and sex at school or not, regardless of anyone elses' own beliefs, including my own.

One thing I really dislike about this doc. is how it portray kids as innocent empty shell beings with no sexuality... are you kidding me? >_> Who here remembers playing "you show me yours and I'll show you mines" games? I remember seeing a penis for the first time during first grade. It was at the back of the bus. Really sweet boy too. I knew exactly what I was looking at. I wasn't dumb. I gotten my hands on some high level science textbooks from my older brother. I mean seriously... I knew I liked boys more than the girls, and thought that if I hanged out with them more I would know them and win them over. I saw hanging out with girls as a waste of time. I was quite a sexual child, but that's because I took advantage of the open opportunities that were given to explore and understand, not just my own body, but the bodies of others as well. Kids aren't these robotic beings... they know and understand sexuality quite more than what the media and these people give them credit for. They just need to look back into their own childhood and see that they weren't little saints when they were growing up.

After watching the show and reading all the comments I found the comments to be more interesting because they were more balanced and informative, but I found it difficult to formulate an opinion on the matter. It bothers me to see children watching TV in America because I watch how it effects them in the way they talk and play, as well as in the questions they ask and the choices they make. Of course I would prefer they watch something educational, but what passes for education these days is just as frightening. I want our kids to fit in well with society but ignorance should not be the price to pay for that. They sent the fourth graders home with a consent form to teach them sex edudcation, or the alternative to sit in another class for the day if the parents didn't want their children to be aware of sex just yet. I appreciate that, but I wish they also would have given us the chance to decide whether they get taught the real history of the USA, or just the officially sanctioned version of it. I detest most of the music videos the kids are watching these days but I pretend to be casually not interested, and I have to admit that they are often more realistic than the news. Personally, I don't enjoy consuming sexually suggestive market hyped products, and I would never become a sex ed teacher in todays climate, but I will answer their questions regardless of what inspires them, and I will encourage them to show respect for one another regardless of the degree of sexuality they decide is appropriate as they navigate the modern world. It's not for me to decide if they find nudity and sex to be beautiful or horrifying. Perhaps hiding it from them may make them want it more and understand it less. I don't know. What is natural, normal or necessary today? I can't tell how it is in Canada, but in the USA it is now considered somewhat obscene for a man to remove his shirt in public, even on a hot day. Would the people who made this "documentary" attribute that to a widespread problem with obesity? Would they suggest that it is evidence of double standards? Media money knows us better than we know ourselves. There are reasons they don't use images of sexy women to promote war, but I will need more than my whimpy little double digit IQ to figure that one out. However, I find it most interesting that the last scene of this video showed how they exploited young children by making them put clothes on an advertisement to try to influence the opinion of those who would exploit adults by undressing them to influence the opinion of children. It suggests that the entire film may be exploiting children to advance the moral opinions of the producers. Who is exploiting who? Think about this the next time you tell your kids they can watch TV after they finish their homework.

"in the USA it is now considered somewhat obscene for a man to remove his shirt in public, even on a hot day."

EH!!??? Which part of the U.S. are you referring to? I'm not trying to be mean or bringing you down in anyway here. I just don't see that as being true throughout the U.S.. Within humid cities, like those in South Florida, most people wouldn't find a shirtless man offensive at all. It's actually the norm... especially here in Miami. Of course it depends on how the guy looks, but to be fair women are put into such microscopes of superficial beauty too... so its all fair down here in the Sunshine State on who can show what.

Also it wouldn't be the first time people find shirtless men obscene. During the Victorian and Edwardian times, it was considered offensive for a man to take his coat off, revealing the button shirt of his suit, in front of a lady. So the idea of a man undressing his top off being offense isn't anything new.

Erika Smithson
- 07/24/2011 at 09:49

As a 16 year-old currently and being exposed to this on a daily basis, this plight which adults seem so worried about just... Isn't. At least not in the proportions they were speaking of. By looking at the media and women half-naked parading around piss drunk hooking up with enough guys to assure them herpes. It's something to laugh at. Because we are aware that what they are doing is beyond stupid. It's amusing to dress like that for Halloween but most girls with a triple digit IQ realize it's not reality. Nor will it be.

On the topic of Bratz... Come on guys! I liked them because they had sparkles. Jeez. I'm not going to become an anorexic pole-dancer. It's like saying that Barbie is trying to make girls want breast implants because she has big boobs, uh, no.

And finally, I agree with some of it, or I would have not watched the whole thing. It's true expectations for relationships have changed. But... It isn't as cut and dry as they make it appear.

You make a great point, Erika. The film seemed to be a bit of an exercise in fear-mongering, especially for parents.
I have an almost 15 y-o daughter who, frankly, has a knock-out figure and certainly doesn't dress to show off her body.

She hasn't been influenced in a negative way by the media about her sexuality. (Although it has encouraged the rampant consumerism that drives her gen!)
Despite the usual teenage insecurities that come and go as she grows up, she lives in the real world, she can tell when a boy is interested in her for who she is, she doesn't feel the need to look sexy or change the way she acts for acceptance.
She was invited into the 'popular' group at her school, "if she wore more make-up" and laughed about it when she told me.

And yes, I thank the universe every day for this child!

I think parents are the ones responsible for educating kids about - well, life- not the media.

Laura Bloom
- 07/21/2011 at 02:17

This documentary is not an effective one at all. Whether people choose to acknowledge it or not, a major part of human sexuality has been and always will be looks. I think the most beautiful girls are those who are confident with themselves! Teenagers, because of hormones, are at their lowest when it comes to self-esteem. What we all should do is teach girls to love themselves and cherish their sexuality! Sex should not equate with fear, rather sex should be looked at with common sense and then embraced as something completely and totally natural.

I can see why ex-feminists are so upset: they fought really hard for women's emancipation and now their slogans are being usurped by marketing pimps.
But they shouldn't worry too much. No girls with an iq above 80 (that is forrest gump standard) would agree that pussycat dolls are about girl power!
I think south park did a much better job than madame bissonnette on the subject matter - the episode on paris hilton (stupid spoilt whore) expresses everything I want to say, just better!

Don't forget all the hormones and chemicals in our food that cause young girls to get there cycle at age 11 now- instead of 14 or 15 like it was 70 years ago.
Everything promotes growing up fast.
At the appropriate age girls should be taught to cherish there sexuality and not give it out on to the first boy that they kiss.
The problem is we shelter girls to much in one way and not enough in the other...

Western Society has managed to progress in making sex a problem. The problem is not Sex itself, but the repression of it, the same creative force that links us to the mysteries life and Death. The Westernization of Sex has equally made men and women psychologically fragmented, depriving them of their innate, natural expressions, that of being rooted in Nature. What we have here is a Sibling Society that has eased to mature beyond the stage of Adolescence, unconsciously grappling with dark forces of Maya beyond their control.

What a patronising documentary. I am a 19 year old female, I am not image obsessed, having sex like a porn star, suffering from an eating disorder or suffering with depression!!
This is sensationalist, none of the teenagers i socialise with are affected by hypersexualised images to an extent that it impacts their day to day lives...

I could probably go on like this with every scence in the whole doc but I'll spare you. English isn't my first language so please forgive the spelling mistakes etc.

Emma Chaplen
- 03/21/2011 at 02:01

What a patronising documentary. I am a 19 year old female, I am not image obsessed, having sex like a porn star, suffering from an eating disorder or suffering with depression!!
This is sensationalist, none of the teenagers i socialise with are affected by hypersexualised images to an extent that it impacts their day to day lives...

I am 25 year old woman. I have several problems with this doc. As someone pointed out in comments below this feels like anti-sex propaganda. I thought we've gotten past that long time ago, like in the 60's.

There is also lots of little things that annoyme too like why are all the women speaking of this "problem" middle aged, unattractive, slightly overweight? Do they feel threatend or what? Most of the commercial pics in this doc shows women in their 20's not children or teens. Music has always been about sex one way or another, I don't really listen to any music that isn't about having good time. Seeing people dancing with no clothes on makes me feel happy for them havin good time not my self feeling ugly. Although I hate bratz dolls the reason why they are so popular is because they're cute, has lots of things and clothes to collect and are glittering, colorful etc that kids are instantly attracted to. I wish someone would have bought me a bratz bra so I would felt good about getting breasts and not ashamed.

I could probably go on like this with every scence in the whole doc but I'll spare you. English isn't my first language so please forgive the spelling mistakes etc.

this documentary has valid points. female children early on are being told by the media that if they are not sexy according to the media's standards, they are worthless. and the media has a very narrow definition of sexy. moreover, we live in a culture that overemphasizes sex, when sex, though it is important in many ways, is not everything. male children, unlike female children, are not subjected to a very narrow standard of masculinity. even with the adults, it's women who are the objects. it's women whose breasts and butts are overexposed most of the time, while males wear clothing that cover up their bodies adequately. while showing too much skin and even nudity will not be problems in a society where men and women treat each other as equals and where no one exploits sex to gain wealth and power, or uses sex to oppress a group of people, it is not the kind of society we live in right now. in our present society, we are told that sex is dirty, yet sex is overly used by capitalists to sell their goods. we desire the unattainable, after all. moreover, women are told by the media that we should look sexy, but still be virginal in our character. we are told by what we see on tv that we should show cleavage and wear tight-fitting clothing to please men, but that we should not act on our sexual desires because it will make us sluts. tell me this does not affect women's mental and emotional well-being, and i'll show you plenty of women who have very low self-esteem because of our problematic culture.

also a twenty-five year-old woman speaking here, by the way.

M A
- 07/11/2011 at 21:32

It seems to me that you might be a good example of what the doc was trying to warn us about; society putting women in their place, in a sense. That is to say, women being preoccupied with shallow superficial things like looks, sexuality, material possessions and consumerism; you might think of those as 'good times' from what I read in your post. And no, music has not always been about sex. Believe it or not, it was once one of the highest forms of art. Another shocker; not all music today is made to be 3 minutes and 27 seconds long in order to be media friendly and bite sized, easy to enjoy like a twinky.

I'm sorry you can only enjoy the 'good times'. There is a lot more to the human experience than that.

vinylearz
- 02/23/2011 at 06:53

We have so covered up the female and male body, that an ideological documentary such as this can make sense, if one is uncritical. Hypersexuality is not the problem, but the dominant anti-sexuality trend of post-modern, politically correct society. It's not the children, nor the adults, but a certain ideology, that makes this video wrong: humans, from day one, are sexual beings, as is all life. It's called reproduction/self-replication. This video strikes me as a "Born Again Christian" free-message-video, aka "Born Again Sexual-Puritanism 60's Feminism Outdated" type of documentary. LOL

i think you missed the point here. it's not sex and revealing too much skin that is the problem per se, it's our sexist and exploitative culture. as i have replied to a comment above, women early on are being programmed to think that their worth rests on how "sexy" they are, and that's according to hollywood and the capitalist culture's standards. and this definition of "sexy" is very narrow, and many women can't reach these standards. men are not subjected to narrow standards of masculinity and sexuality, unlike women. humans, both the males and the females, are sexual beings, but that is not all we are. by reducing humans only to our sexual aspects, you deny all the others, and much is being repressed here, when we can actually have sexual freedom without sacrifing all the other aspects that, combined with us being sexual creatures, make us human.

moreover, both men and women are sexual beings, but why is it that only the women have to dress sexily when men can choose to dress up in a way that adequately covers their body up? do you see the double standard here? men don't have to expose too much skin in order for them to be considered sexy. in fact, as what we the media presents to us, men are attractive more because of their accomplishments, their intellect, and their wealth, which they most likely obtained through their accomplishments, while women are considered attractive for their facial beauty, youth, tiny waistline, large breasts, long legs, and pert buttocks. this harms men and women equally, with the stereotypes that women are gold-diggers, and men are sex-crazed beasts.

Beznik
- 02/08/2011 at 08:32

Try respecting women and treating them as equals and human beings instead of sex objects. I have my whole life, the women I know anyway yes I have looked at porn occasionally and sometimes check out women who I don't know and will probably never see again. When it comes to women I know I am not that way I talk about real things I try to get to know them to listen to them and being a good friend. It leads to being just friends while the girl you love screws and gets screwed by some total jerk. It leads to women thinking your weak and walking all over you. Women insist on being treated badly, its really seems like its not mens fault. Maybe our media or our culture is to blame but it is not the average guys fault. He learns quickly to save the nice guy routine for his mom because only she will appreciate it

"Women insist on being treated badly, its really seems like its not mens fault."

Don't put everyone into one basket. The correct way to put that is ... Some women insist on being treated badly and its really seems like its not the fault of most men.

"....but it is not the average guys fault. He learns quickly to save the nice guy routine for his mom because only she will appreciate it "

Stop giving excuses to average guys. Men can think for themselves and make their own f***ing decisions. See this is the reason why I left the states to find my husband. Most guys in the states are whiny little b****es who don't take responsibility for THEIR own actions. They expect women to do everything...even think for them, because poor little man... he is too brainwashed by the media... he is too weak minded to think for himself. >_> F***ing please.... Men are just as guilty as the women with the complexity of finding and keeping a mate. Most men put up such ridiculous standards that most women, such as myself, learn that it's cheaper and quicker to find a husband outside of ones own country than wasting time and money going to local places.

"When it comes to women I know I am not that way I talk about real things I try to get to know them to listen to them and being a good friend. It leads to being just friends while the girl you love screws and gets screwed by some total jerk. It leads to women thinking your weak and walking all over you. "

Where do you live? Because seriously... Also have you asked these women out? Or taken them anywhere? Because real ladies would only go out with guys who asked them out. Also how do you dress? How's your appearance? And no, you don't need a f***ing six pack to get a woman. I fell in love with my husband the first day I met him. He was coming out of a cafe place, dressed in a three piece suit... really fancy. He was really overweight back then too, but he pulled it off with such confidence and sophistication I overlooked that. Nothing is more sexier than a guy who is so sure of himself. What got us together was an incident at that same area... a guy was harassing me and my future husband pushed the guy away. We started to talk and I asked him if he was doing anything that night... and well... we're now together forever. If a guy sees something he believes is wrong and doesn't do something to make it right, he doesn't deserve a simple hello from me. You can be the sweetest thing in the world, but if you don't stand up for your beliefs and values no woman would want you.

RJP
- 08/21/2011 at 15:24

Just out of curiosity, in which country did you find your knight?

Aidan
- 02/03/2011 at 04:19

Oh and one more thing, some of those pre-teen images of girls were just disgusting, I can't believe they volunteered to look like that, or that some sicko felt the need to take those shots in the first place :P

@ Ted and Erik, NO using fear to control children is just as bad as using sex to control them.

And I noticed the same thing is happening with guys, guys have to have six pack abs and big muscles and blue eyes and this and that bull crap. I noticed that some guys at my school(a pretty hefty amount too :O) are having some pretty serious malnutrition problems, many guys take pride in being tooth-pick thin just because they have a "six-pack".

Of course it's not showing the human body that's a problem, it's the fact that people(All parties involved) are treating the body as a purely sexual thing, on one hand people want it to be shown blatantly as a sex object and on the other hand people are afraid of it because they think it implies sex.
And image isn't the only problem, personalities have become fashionable too. For girls it's being a backstabbing manipulative user, for guys it's to be a jock who plays with a woman's dignity for his own sake.
And both are told they need to dress/act in ways that are being marketed at that time, yet they don't seem to clue in that they're being played by marketing strategists.

But anyways I'm straying off here xD
Point is, both women AND men are being objectified.
Seriously, girls nowadays as well as men only look skin deep and it's pretty disgusting.
Oh and one more thing, back @ Ted Erik, people shouldn't be controlled using fear, they should be held as if learning how to ride a bike and steered into the direction of critical reasoning skills
and being able to think on their own feet.

Dam what kind of newspaper are they reading? Man, when I was a kid I had to jerk off to a fully dress woman depicted as cooking in a kitchen. There was nothing sexual about the picture and we had to really use our imagination to get a load off; not like the kids today. But, all joking aside, this is sad to see. The media trend is producing a generation of kids that are unable to be creative in any possible way. They follow fashion trends, sex trends, etc that tv, magazines, and internet are telling them to. I love the idea of feminism because it give women this image of power and being independent. Well, I like that. However, as women gain more freedom and power in society through higher education it become noticable, they are wearing less. The clothes they are wearing in the media or in the general public is getting tighter, shorter, and just less to end it at that. So, is the increase in women independence the result of more respect to female because of feminism or is it due to the fact that males are more attracted to the new sexy looks of women and allow them to get into college or a job position because they(males) are turn-on.

LOL @ men too turned on to care for women working and getting higher education. That's a new one.

Adrian
- 01/07/2011 at 18:36

In my opinion, the problem with blatant sexual images in the media these days is that when children are exposed to these images, they don't understand what they're seeing, and they associate skimpy clothes, heavy makeup, and chemically altered hair as being the epitome of attractiveness

I remember as a child becoming anorexic for a while because everywhere I saw super thin models wearing tiny little short shorts and half tops, and being chubby, this made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

@ Christopher - "realize that looking at women as women is one thing, but looking at women as objects is something else, and depicts women as objects void of that human essence. The frailties of being human."- I am totally agree with these lines and this is what is going on in our present money-driven world.

I would like to point out that in a male dominated world I think guys really need to stand up to this dehumanizing behavior that we as guys advocate whether consciously, or unconsciously. Think there is nothing wrong with....sex and body parts, but when it becomes a tool for profit, or something that objectifies the entire person then there is the problem.

Don't get me wrong I being a guy living in the United States, I am sexist in the sense that I look at women, and "dream" about what is underneath, and it is a hard thing to understand, and realize that looking at women as women is one thing, but looking at women as objects is something else, and depicts women as objects void of that human essence. The frailties of being human. I guess it is one step at a time.

"...it is a hard thing to understand, and realize that looking at women as women is one thing, but looking at women as objects is something else, and depicts women as objects void of that human essence.The frailties of being human. I guess it is one step at a time. "

The fact that you're questioning your abilities to understand shows that you do understand and know the differences (if you didn't know than you wouldn't have created that list), and you are just looking for excuses... not just for yourself, but humanity.

edward goodpeace
- 10/01/2010 at 02:02

lets put back the clothes that the children use to wear and keep the adults stuff to the adults. and let teens be teens with out thinking they have to grow up to fast. I seen a lot here as well as they children dress.

to my self the document I feel is a good one to observe cause it has the understanding about the problems that the fashion world has brang to society has introduce these kind of clothern to the younger children and the pre teens and the young adolescents selling these clothes has made it un suitable to wear in the market place due to it sexuality problems it has done and selling these in magazines to make it explicit . iot has to stop making these kind of clothes
I feel a women can buy a suitable kind of clothern that don't show to much of the body but to be fashionable. weastern scoitey has made its own problems by advertizing in moral wear. not every women are like others and that makes it hard for them that are not cheap andlook liike a bimbo

None of this will ever change, no matter what people do or say, the harsh reality is nothing will change. What will change is the amount of media covering how woman are being disrespected in the media. You see more and more of these documentaries in the past years, but its just getting worse, therefore messages like this are not taken seriously because you can speak out as much as you want on how much you dont like it, but if nothing actually happens to change it no one is going to care.

This is why feminism isnt taken seriously anymore. We complain but when woman themselves are being promiscuous and not doing anything to change it the majority of people are going to think its fine.

This will be a very difficult battle to fight.
1)The companies which are advertising, are only interested in what will bring them business, even at the cost of the generation's health and well-being. There's no reasoning with them.
2)Even if you do succeed in sheltering half or even most of the girls from these influences, as long as there are some who are affected, the boys will naturally give them the attention, causing the sheltered girls to want to do whatever it takes to keep up.

The most powerful part of the film, was when it demonstrated the distortion of the concept of confidence, which is in reality - 'the self esteem which gives you the ability to be yourself', and they somehow flipped it to mean - 'the shedding of all self-regard/value/respect, which gives you the ability to do whatever is desired by another person'.

@Karen - I totally agree with this line "What shocks me the most is all the opportunistic women that are stoking this fire, just lining up. No integrity or morals at all. Giving it all away for little in return."

I teach all types of women how to find and keep their men. And the thing that shocks me the most is today's women (and teenage girls) are willingly giving away sex like it's nothing. Almost any woman who sleeps with a man they like too soon will almost guarantee that the relationship will not last - that's the pattern I've found working with friends and clients. They give sex out like it's worth nothing so the men don't value them when they obviously don't value themselves.

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in abstinence programs either. I believe the media and the companies selling sexualized products are to blame. They shape society's view. When overt sexuality for children and teens become "normalized" it destroys them in many intangible ways. Wearing tank tops, mini bras and heels for 10 year olds is not normal. I just wish parents out there would be more responsible and NOT buy that sh!t in the first place so those companies will change their products and ads. Vote with your wallets people!

I let my 10 year old daughter to be just that, a child. She enjoys stuff toys and animal dolls and dresses like a kid should. I don't let her watch risqué music videos and I encourage her to feel good about herself as she is. Whereas my sister-in-law encourages her daughter to be like Barbie and dress cute and sexy. Last time I saw them, she asked me to use a straightening iron on her 6 year old daughter's hair! I asked her why on earth would a 6 year old want straighter hair? My niece-in-law replied "because I want to look pretty"

"sexy" is so subjective, as this documentary really shows.
whats sexy about a little girl? not much to most people... I'm not sure what the real agenda is under "exposing this phenomenon"; more dictated morality? Burkhas?

I am glad you western people finally opened you eyes.Save those little angles from the dust and dirt of Industrial world that is fuming out of TV screens. You are lucky to have a good educational system in place to address issues like this

Hmm, as a young man, 21, I remember seeing that change, about the time when I was in grade 8, I noticed the girls all of a sudden started to dress much much sexier and in skimpy outfits that were not normal when I was in grade 3. I think it is only going further down hill from there, and would not want to even see what kind of clothes grade 5s are wearing or not wearing today.
Then again it is all marketing, they make cartoons aimed at kids dressing sexy, so even if parents tell their kids to ignore the cartoon and they do, there will be the whole peer pressure factor from other girls in school who dress that way.

I'm glad this sexualism isn't so broadly advertised in my country (Israel) as in this documentary. At last something the Dossim are doing something right. The pressure they put on this country is great, and these kind of pictures are offensive to them.

Just as that woman said in the end, the parents should tell their children that advertisments like that are junk, I would even say it in an even more critical way - I would say to my future children that girls who dress like that are Sharmutot! (A nice Hebrew curse for "Sluts"). (:

WOW! I'm so glad I found this film, because as a female teenager myself, I have noticed the sickening evolution from child to attemptive adult- both physically and mentally, in such short periods of time, in many of my peers. And not only is it sickening, this revolutionary evolution young females are encouraged to bring upon themselves- but it's morbid. Twisted. And must be stopped. This is a wonderful film, and I hope to see it in public school circulation for sexual education classes.

Being exposed to loveless sexual images at a young age is one thing, while being exposed to a loveless sexual image whilst being told its wrong to do that without context is another. Every theory on development emphasizes the impact of learning, and that future problems in life are due to faulty learning. Something as large a topic as sex cannot be influenced by a single outlet. If a young boy watches a music video where women are treated like objects, they do not think "if 50 cent does this, then it's okay". He would see that sort of ideology in many places. If a young boy watches that video, sees mimicking family behaviors, and is told later that the act of sex is wrong, those add up to a faulty learning experience about the world of sex.

Kids will learn about sex. There is no avoiding it now. But the answer is not to shame them about sex, but rather to teach them fully on the topic. Why else would teenage pregnancy rates in U.S.A. increase only in the years George Bush was in office, when abstinence programs in schools received a huge boost in funding?

All this documentary seems to me is a bunch of people taught to be ashamed of their sexuality trying to pass that knowledge onto their kids. It's awful, really. I thought the modern world was about progression.

I've heard of guys in high school being humiliated by girls who were making fun of their 'performance' or even penis size in front of everyone. The girls who sleep around early on are the ones who want to be degraded because they decide to go out with guys who everyone knows will treat them like crap. Then again, when you look at it, you also have to see who these girls are. They'r usually the ones from some sort of disfunctional households. They are not the girls that guys who treat them well would be friends with.

I really don't think this problem influences everyone. You can kinda tell which girl is more likely to be giving out blow jobs than read her math textbook. They'r the ones that need help, not the whole society.

First, it seems to make what they call hypersexualization to be a mainly (thought not all together)a female problem. Well this really is not true, males are in a very similar position in much of the popular media. For instance, they mention women being objectified in the 50 cent video but in the Britney spears video there are random hot guys dancing around in a sexual manner, just as objectified as any woman.

Second they never explore why this is happening. The media does not just produce anything they want and put it out there. They look at what sells and put it out there, and we generally buy things we like. So if sex sells that means we love sex. They seem to try to shock you with how explicit of an understanding of sex young teens and children have, by they don't explore why both adults and children are attracted to these images. Because we love sex, sexuality is important from a very very young age, Freud would say its the most important, but i concede that it simply matters. So sexuality is natural, the problem is not the sex, i would say its the pressure and awkwardness with which our society still treats the subject. So on the one hand we love and embrace it, but at the same time we condemn it and make it embarrassing. A girl would not be pressured into anal sex if she felt comfortable talking about the subject. It seems we are still in the transitional stage from the Victorian sexual repression, to absolute sexual freedom, but in this transitional stage a major conflict arises. Because sex is available and desirable but its still somewhat wrong and shameful.

Finally back to the damage to femininity point. How much damage is it really doing, the say (rather arbitrarily) that the hypersexualized imagery and culture is there to bring down the female and make them concerned with being sex objects. Well is this really having that effect, women are more powerful now then they ever were. And lets be hones there are just as many portrayals of women in popular culture that are powerful, and intelligent (while being hot in some cases). Women kicking ass with samurai swords. in positions of political power, as doctors, soldiers, and ancient warriors are just as common as the sex object type of portrayals which as i said earlier are not exclusive to women.

She is right when she says we are losing our voice. Everything people protested for in the Feminist Movement is quickly being eroded. The feminist movement started out being about empowering women to think and do for themselves, it was about equality for all people; for women, minorities, and men. It was about having choice about your life and bodies. It was about options, the option that men could tap into their femine side and be cooks, nurses, fashion designers and women could choose traditional male jobs, etc. Then it turned into Lesbians hating men. Then woman power becomes this 'super freak'; aspire to be a stripper and dress like a prostitute. Similtaneously, the sexual revolution goes from having control over pregnancy, to promiscuity, to hands on everybody and do anything, show everything for free. Women are more objectified, disrespected, and degraded than ever before. What shocks me the most is all the opportunistic women that are stoking this fire, just lining up. No integrity or morals at all. Giving it all away for little in return. This is progress! I don't know if you noticed but on the cover of the porn magazine it said chat only it was spelled chatte, 1 letter away from chattel-which is what everyone is becomeing:a possession/commodity.

ya the documentary is an awful important educative and informative staff but the thing i realized, is there any way except practicising how to respect girl whether she is baby teen young or woman we should practise it at home school and society where the little kid s are being socialized .we need to change our look over them how come we forget they are the only medium to take us on earth soooooooooooo its urgent to limit our wildness what is being acceptd and nuturing by goverment and indusries who cosider women only as an sex object .............. sex has been marketized with a target of vulgerness , rather a tie between the lovers a commitment for a long term relationship

This documentary is great, It does go over things we already know but as a society (however sad it is) we seem to have a new way of coping which is to shrug it off or "what can I do?" I admit I do this myself but where will it end? We give up on fighting against war because we are told by the media that we are stupid hippies and don't care about our troops. It seems to have become the norm and I feel the thing we are losing the most is our voice, we are quelled and downtrodden and feel completely disempowered. That would make the people in charge the happiest, a bunch of citizens who wont fight them and just go with whatever they put forward.

An extremely important documentary. I teach self-defense for women and girls and these are the very issues that help create and perpetuate violence against women and girls.

What I don't like about this film is that it asserts that these issues are something new. Yes, they continue to be intensified every year, but my experience as a girl and teenager was exactly the same. I'm 46.

I thought I was the only one who is concerned by the media over sexing our children...now I see moms and grandmoms all over the world feel the same way...unfortunately, we don't have the influence on our children the media does...and the peer pressure to blend in and be the same is supremely powerful...the media wins/moms lose....